To united nations working group on arbitrary detention

Volunteering for the [Kimse Yok Mu Charity]

Kimse Yok Mu, a charity organization that was set up in 2004 in Istanbul²⁶ and had quickly developed internationally recognized relief programs in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)The group was the only aid agency that held UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) special consultative status. Having been active in 113 countries for years, Kimse Yok Mu developed the capacity to deliver emergency relief in disaster zones as well as to rebuild infrastructure in communities, thereby providing long-term assistance, which includes the construction of homes, hospitals, schools and health facilities.

However, it came under fire by the Turkish government when Erdoğan started attacking the Gulen Movement. First, Kimse Yok Mu’s licenses to raise, hold and use funds in charitable work were suspended on September 22, 2014, and the charity was later shut down completely after the failed coup on July 15, 2016. Volunteers, staff members and executives of Kimse Yok Mu faced legal action by the government. Many employees were jailed or faced arrest and prosecution on dubious charges. Ironically, it was Erdoğan himself who participated in Kimse Yok Mu’s fundraising drives and asked businesspeople to contribute to the charitable cause. Hüseyin Avni Mutlu, former governor of Istanbul and currently in pretrial detention, was arrested on terrorism charges because he donated TL 20 ($6) to Kimse Yok Mu at one time. ²⁷

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